VISAKHAPATNAM: In a move to assist lady passengers subjected to inconveniences, such as teasing, as they travel in trains passing through Visakhapatnam railway station, Railways have come up with the idea of Subhadra Vahini, a special team of 20 persons. Divisional Railway Manager MS Mathur launched the programme, on Monday.
This initiative taken by the Waltair Division will help women passengers, who may be facing trouble as they travel in trains. Such women can now seek assistance of the special team by calling the toll free no 182.The women security personnel of the RPF and the ticket checking staff will be monitoring the activities of miscreant to better attend to the grievances of the female passengers, a source in the Railways said. The team Subhadra Vahini will alert passengers and prevent crimes from taking place both on platforms and in trains. A team of 32 members, including 10 ticket checking staff and 22 from RPF will also be a part of the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, the DRM said that the women passengers could use the toll-free helpline 182 for security-related needs while on railway station premises or in trains. The DRM said that as some of the women passengers hesitated to inform the male security personnel about their problems, the Division had decided to deploy female staff to interact with women and address their grievances.
It is also for the first time that women ticket checking staff are deployed to handle the penalties or other commercial issues if any. The Division has come up with a unique dress code for the Subhadra Vahini members so that they can be recognised easily when someone is looking for help. Waltair Division will also organise gender sensitization programmes to ensure security for women passengers, the DRM said.
To meet the objective, special attention has been given to security of women by forming a committee under the chairmanship of DRM, with two members, senior divisional security commissioner (RPF) and senior divisional medical officer in it.
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